Traumatic Brain Injury

The Brain Injury Association of America (BIA) reports that every 13 seconds, someone in the U.S. suffers a traumatic brain injury (TBI).  That amounts to 2.5 million people injured annually. Of those, 50,000 die and another 280,000 are hospitalized. Many are so severely injured, their lives and the lives of their family members and loved ones will never again be the same.

A TBI is defined as any external force that causes trauma to the brain. Some injuries are minor, causing only a brief interference with thinking and a headache. Others can be so severe the normal functioning of the brain is forever altered. A concussion is an example of a mild TBI which causes temporary cognitive problems and physical discomfort, but the physical symptoms are temporary and there is generally a full recovery.

There are two types of TBIs: Closed and penetrating. A closed TBI is when the brain is injured when the trauma causes it to shake around inside the head. A penetrating TBI is when an object pierces the brain such as occurs with a bullet or stab wound.

Causes of TBIs

Some of the most common causes of a traumatic brain injury include:

• Falls of any kind account for more than 40 percent of all TBIs. This ranges, for example, from falls off of scaffoldings in construction accidents, falls off of ladders, tripping and falling over debris on the ground or aisle of a store and falling while walking on an icy sidewalk. Falls are the leading cause of TBI deaths in those over the age of 65.
• Blunt force trauma by being hit by an object is the cause of more than 15 percent of all TBIs. A number of people shopping in a big box store, like Costco, Walmart, Home Depot and other similar stores, suffer brain injuries when they are hit in the head by an object falling off of a high shelf.
• Motor vehicle accidents are the cause of more than 14 percent of TBIs. They are the leading cause of death from a TBI for those between the ages of 5 and 24 years-old.
• Assaults result in approximately 10 percent of all TBIs, but is the leading cause of all TBIs in children ages 4 years-old and under.
• Twenty percent of TBIs occur from unknown causes.

Symptoms of a TBI

A few years ago, the death of an actress received national attention when she fell and hit her head on a rock while skiing. She initially claimed she was fine and refused medical treatment. A short time later, she was confused and disoriented and agreed to be rushed to a hospital, but it was too late. Four hours after the accident, she was declared brain dead due to a blood vessel that had ruptured when she hit her head.

Anyone who has suffered a head trauma needs to seek immediate medical attention. Some symptoms occur right away. Others may not appear for days, weeks or even months. If you have not already received medical treatment, immediately visit an emergency room or call your doctor if you experience any of the following:

• Headache.
• Blurred vision.
• Confusion.
• Disorientation.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Memory loss.
• Easy fatigue.
• Problems sleeping.
• Personality changes.
• Sensory changes such as problems with vision or hearing.
• Difficulty concentrating.
• Impaired or loss of cognitive skills.
• Balance problems.
• Seizures.
• Unconsciousness.

Even with proper medical treatment, more than five million Americans have some type of permanent disability they have to cope with every day as a result of their traumatic brain injury.

How a Personal Injury Attorney Can Help

A personal injury attorney will review the circumstances of the accident which injured you or a loved one or resulted in the death of a loved one. Not every accident resulting in a traumatic brain injury is caused by the negligence of another person or business.  If the accident was the fault of a negligent person or business, you can benefit from filing a claim for damages.

The treatment for a TBI is generally extensive. If the injury is one that will require life-long medical treatment and you or your loved one suffer a permanent disability, medical expenses can be astronomical at the same time the injured person is unable to work and earn an income.

Attorney Ivan M. Diamond is a Bronx personal injury lawyer who offers a free, no obligation consultation. He will review the circumstances surrounding your accident and help you determine whether you have a personal injury or wrongful death case in New York.

There are time limits within which you must file a claim for damages following the accident. If you miss the deadline, you lose forever your right to receive compensation no matter how serious the injury, how tragic the death or how clearly it is that the accident was caused by another’s negligence.  Contact the Law Offices of Ivan M. Diamond as soon as possible. He will even visit you at your home or in the hospital if your situation requires it.